Department of Astronomy
Department of Astronomy

Fan Mountain Observatory

Night sky

McCormick Observatory

Observatories

Large Binocular Telescope Observatory

Astrophysical Research Consortium Telescopes (Schedules)

The Simons Observatory

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey-V (SDSS-V)

  • SDSS-V at the Apache Point Observatory, NM, and Las Campanas Observatory, Chile.

Steward Observatory Telescopes (Schedules)

Local University of Virginia Telescopes

Mount Graham International Observatory (Schedules, and local TAC)

UVa has negotiated an agreement with the Research Corporation and Steward Observatory (University of Arizona) which has given us access to the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) and MGIO facilities, including the 1.8-meter VATT. The LBT is currently the largest aperture optical telescope in the world.

Apache Point Observatory (Schedules, and local TAC)

UVa is a member institution of the Astrophysical Research Consortium.  This gives us access to the facilities of APO, its 3.5-m telescope, and the 0.5-m ARCSAT telescope. Both the 3.5-m and ARCSAT telescopes can be operated remotely.  The Department of Astronomy’s instrument lab constructed and commissioned the near-infrared spectrograph TripleSpec which has been in use as a facility instrument on the 3.5-m since 2008.  The Department is active in providing engineering support and developing instrumentation for the 3.5-m telescope.

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey-V (SDSS-V)

UVa is a three-slot member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-V, a dual-hemisphere multi-epoch visual and near-infrared spectroscopic survey of Milky Way stars (Milky Way Mapper) and quasars and x-ray sources (Black Hole Mapper).  It also includes a newly developed integral field spectroscopic facility in the southern hemisphere to study the Milky Way and Local Volume Galaxies (Local Volume Mapper).  The Department of Astronomy led the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) surveys, including leading the construction and commissioning of both spectrographs, for SDSS-III and SDSS-IV.  It currently maintains the spectrographs for SDSS-V.

Steward Observatory (Schedules, and local TAC)

UVa has negotiated an agreement with the Research Corporation and Steward Observatory (University of Arizona) which has given us access to Steward facilities including the MMT and Magellan 6.5-meter telescopes.

Fan Mountain Observatory (Public Night Information)

The Fan Mountain Observatory is operated by the University of Virginia. The observatory is used for research involving instrument development and optical imaging and spectroscopy. The observatory is being used to provide follow-up spectroscopic observations of candidate star for the NASA SIM Mission Grid Giant Star Survey. Additionally, and near infrared imaging in support of NASA's WISE mission. There are two schedules, one for the public: Public Night Schedule, and a second one which is only for local astronomers (call for more information).

Leander McCormick Observatory (Public Night Information)

The Leander McCormick Observatory is currently used for education, public outreach, and training students in observation techniques. The observatory is home to a historic 26-inch Alvan Clark Refractor. Efforts are currently underway to expand the outreach capabilities of the observatory. There are two schedules, one for the public: Public Night Schedule, and a second one which is only for local astronomers (call for more information).

In addition to these facilities, researchers also take advantage of facilities like the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's VLA and GBT, Kitt Peak National Observatory. Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, Palomar Observatory, Las Campanas Observatory, and the Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra Space Telescopes.

The University of Virginia has a long tradition of observational astronomy starting in the 1820's and continuing today. The UVa-owned observatories have recently been upgraded to modern standards and allow imaging and spectroscopy in the optical and infrared. In addition, we have joined the Large Binocular Telescope project at the Mount Graham International Observatory and with the Steward Observatory and the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC), giving UVa guaranteed access to some of the largest telescopes in the world.

The Department of Astronomy at UVa operates two local observatories. The Leander McCormick Observatory, located on the UVa Grounds, is a historical site (established in 1883) and is now primarily used for educational purposes. The Fan Mountain Observatory is a more modern observatory located about 15 miles south of Charlottesville. It is used for both education and research. In addition to these facilities, we also have a plate vault which contains over 150,000 photographic plates (spanning nearly the entire 20th century), two PDS microdensitometer labs for digitizing photographic plates, a machine shop and electronics shop which provide observatory support, and an optics lab for instrument development.

Both observatories are open to the public during the year. The McCormick Observatory is open to the public the first and third Friday of every month. The Fan Mountain Observatory is open to the public twice a year, contact the Astronomy Department for details.

University of Virginia Resources

Instrumentation (V.A.I.L.)

Astronomy Shops and Labs

  • Staff
  • Machine shop
  • Electronics shop
  • IR/Optics lab
  • Radio Astronomy lab
  • Photographic Plate vault
  • Microdensitometry lab